2026 Newsletter
A Message From Director of Bands, Dr. Daniel Lee!
Greetings, members of the Gold Star Alumni Band!
I hope everyone had a great summer and is looking forward to the Fall, both at home and with NDSU band activities. Compared to last summer and last year, things are relatively quiet and stable. We have no changes in the instrumental faculty, and Drs. Sutton and DeMull are wonderful additions to the team who have done many great things already in their first year at NDSU. Dr. Wottrich is also doing a great job as the new Director of the CSOM, and is very supportive of the band program. We've been happily using the new rehearsal space (named the Pilafian Room) and the renovated Festival Hall this past year. We hope you get to see and experience both spaces soon.
On the concert band side, we're planning our Fall Tour in the northwestern portion of Minnesota this year (details still TBD), we will be hosting another Raging Red Band Festival, and we will continue our involvement in the ND Intercollegiate Band. Our concert dates are as follows, and we'd love to see you there!
10/13: University Band (7:30p)
10/15: Wind Symphony (7:30p)
12/6: University Band (2:00p), Wind Symphony (7:30p), however playoffs may cause this concert date to be changed
2/26: University Band (7:30p)
2/27: Wind Symphony (7:30p)
4/30: University Band (7:30p)
5/1: Wind Symphony (7:30p, with Dr. Olfert guest conducting a piece!)
I continue to be grateful for all the support given to this program from the GSAB. The scholarship and certificates provided by the GSAB are very much appreciated by the students in the band program, and the faculty in the department. Thank you for continuing in those actions.I will also share a personal note that I feel incredibly supported and welcomed into the community within ND and the region. In the 2025-2026 year I've been lucky to have been invited to serve as a guest in multiple roles, including: conducting the MN All State Concert Band, conducting the band on the Star of North Dakota Europe Tour, conducting the HS bands at the International Music Camp, conducting the NWMDBA 9-10 Honor Band, and conducting at the Popplers Band Reading Clinic. I look forward to seeing you at Homecoming this year, and hopefully at some of our concerts!
Sincerely,
Daniel Lee
Updates Across the Gold Star World
A Message from the Director of Athletic Bands, Connor Challey!
Our performance schedule is shaping up to be one of our most exciting yet! We will kick things off with a high-energy Pop Punk show featuring music by Green Day, Blink-182, Sum 41, Avril Lavigne, and Paramore at our first two home games on August 29 and September 5. On September 6, the band will travel to represent NDSU in the Minnesota State Fair Parade.
We will then debut our Broadway production during Homecoming on October 3, and I am especially excited that our Gold Star Alumni Band will be joining us on the field for that performance before bringing the show back on October 17. In between those performances, we are honored to once again participate in Youth in Music on October 10.
We will then present a Halloween-themed dance show on October 31, followed by our Student Show on November 21, featuring music selected by our own band members. Finally, we will present Sounds of the Gridiron on November 22 at 2:00 p.m. in the Fargodome. Of course, we're also knocking on wood for some postseason travel opportunities, with the potential for conference championship and bowl game appearances.
Beyond the performances, this is a landmark year for the Gold Star Marching Band as we begin this new era alongside Bison Football. Thanks to the generosity of several donors and the successful award of the 2025 NDSU Impact Grant, we continue to invest in our students through new equipment. This season, the band will take the field with new sousaphones, drumline equipment, baritones, mellophones, clarinets, and piccolos.
I couldn't be more proud of our staff, student leadership, and members who continue to build upon the traditions and excellence of the Gold Star Marching Band. Thank you for your continued support of the Gold Star Marching Band and for helping build the traditions that continue to inspire our students today. I look forward to seeing many of you back in Fargo this fall, especially during Homecoming! Whether it's at a football game, a concert, or simply around campus, I always enjoy visiting with our Gold Star alumni. Please don't hesitate to stop and say hello. I always have time for a conversation.
With Pride,
Connor Challey
Director of Athletic Bands
North Dakota State University
A Message from the Former Assistant Director of Performing Arts, Bill Law!
Greetings from Bill Law,
Well…I have gone and done it! I am now the retired Assistant Director of NDSU Performing Arts. However, as a Gold Star Band alum, I intend to assist the GSAB in any way possible to ensure that the traditions of homecoming and the band continue to flourish.
Another school-year/band-camp/football season is upon us—and what a season it promises to be! The move to the FBS Mountain West Conference has many implications for the band going forward, and the 2026 season will answer many questions. Bigger audiences, and a bigger band will thrill the loyal Bison fans with more spectacle and greater spirit in the stands and on the field.
If you would like to support the band or any of our GSAB funds—scholarship or direct band support, please feel free to contact the following Directors of Development for the College of Arts and Sciences. They are also able to assist or direct your giving to other areas on campus. Give them a call or email to discuss your interest in giving in more detail.
Jessica Bontjes
jessica.bontjes@ndsufoundation.com
701-231-7648
Ben Schneweis
ben.schneweis@ndsufoundation.com
701-231-6800
Dan Dunn—Director of Planned Giving
dan.dunn@ndsufoundation.com
701-231-5754
Please note that gifts to NDSU can be cash, multi-year pledges (up to 5-years), estate, gifts of appreciated stock, land, and gifts in kind. Be sure to have a conversation with one of the people above to explore options to support your area of passion.
Cheers and Go Bison!
Bill Law
A Note From the President
Greetings, Gold Star Band Alumni!
It is always wonderful, to see the decades of dedication within our organization. At Homecoming 2025, there were alumni from the 1970s all the way through the 2020s, all gathered together to make music, socialize and celebrate our Gold Star Bands heritage. We also appreciate the dedication of those who support our organization financially and make it possible for us to award our scholarships each year.
Congratulations to our 2026-27 Gold Star Alumni Band Scholarship winners Joseph Gonsior and Zachary Christ, as well as the winner of our 2026 Sandra Vining Memorial Award, Jacob Reinbold-Nagel. These scholarship winners were announced at the Wind Symphony spring concert on May 2, and I was honored to participate, assisting with scholarship and senior recognition presentations.
On behalf of Gold Star Alumni Band, I want to express our sincere appreciation to Bill Law, for his decades of dedication to our organization! Bill retired from his full-time job with the Division of Performing Arts at the end of July, and, throughout his time there, has been an awesome liaison for us, with the music department. Thank you, Bill!! He does plan on staying involved with GSAB, as he is, after all, a Gold Star Band alum.
Finally, big thank-you to the current members of our GSAB Board, for the time and talent they give towards running our organization: I’m the president; Vice President Abby Berg; Secretary-Treasurer Samantha Martel; Past President Aaron Beseler; and members-at-large Steve Anderson, Jamie Eckmann, Corey Hulst, Lindsey Miller, and Tracy Youngberg.I am looking forward to continuing with many decades of dedication in Gold Star Alumni Band and hope to see many of you at Homecoming 2026.
As always, Go Bison!
Theresa Ulrich
Spring Scholarship Winners
Theresa Ulrich, GSAB; 2026-27 GSAB Scholarship winners Joey Gonsior and Zachary Christ (not pictured)
On April 28th and May 2nd this spring, Theresa Ulrich from our Board represented GSAB, assisting with recognition of seniors and scholarship winners in the University Band and Wind Symphony. During these concerts, Bill law was also honored, on his retirement from NDSU. Thank you, Bill, for all your years of wonderful leadership at NDSU! Also, thank you to our alumni who generously donate to our GSAB Scholarship Fund, and keep our scholarships tradition going!
Above: Theresa Ulrich, GSAB: 2026-2027 Sandra Vining Memorial Award winner Jacob Reinbold-Nagel
Below: Dr. Daniel Lee presenting Bill Law with his retirement gifts
Homecoming Days: October 2-3, 2026
ALL GOLD STAR BAND ALUMNI ARE INVITED to come and join in the fun of Homecoming 2026! Whether you are playing at Homecoming this year or not, you are welcome to join in all of our GSAB activities!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
6:00 p.m. - Homecoming Parade. We believe the parade begins on the corner of University and 17th Ave. N., heading south, before turning west on 12th Avenue, just like last year.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
7:30 a.m. START TIME - Alumni Band breakfast treats, meeting, and rehearsal, Band Room, Challey Hall.
Registration, breakfast treats, business meeting, recognition of our Honored Alum, rehearsal of our own tunes for the day. This year’s GSAB Homecoming Director is Gary Barta. Gary will lead our rehearsal at the Band Room, as well as our performances throughout the day. Breakfast begins at 7:30; meeting and rehearsal time start at 8:00. Come on over, socialize, and enjoy the rehearsals! Rehearsal of our songs that will be played with the GSMB during the game will be whenever Connor tells us we need to be at the FargoDome Saturday morning. We adjust our schedule to accommodate the GSMB’s access to the Dome and their schedule. Be ready to head up to the FargoDome at any time!
1:00-1:30 p.m. - Meet on the west side of the FargoDome and play there if the weather allows. This location is subject to change and will be finalized during our morning rehearsal.
2:30 p.m. - Homecoming Game (NDSU vs. Wyoming):
Play “Yellow & Green” with GSMB in pregame; play with the GSMB at halftime. We will be joining the GSMB for these two numbers before and during the game. Otherwise, we will be not be playing during the game. Game ticket orders for band alumni are through the registration page and are on a first-come, first-served basis. We have a limited block of tickets available, so be sure to register as soon as possible. Please e-mail GSAB board members Theresa Ulrich (theresaasmith@hotmail.com) or Aaron Beseler (abeseler@hotmail.com) if you have any questions.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION for those of you who are playing during pregame and/or halftime:
Music for these pieces will be e-mailed to you approximately 1 week before homecoming (sooner, if possible). Please be sure we have the best e-mail address to communicate with you when you register. If you have questions, e-mail Aaron Beseler (please put “GSAB” in your subject line).
7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. - Post Game Social!
This year's social will be at the Front Street Taproom (614 Main Ave, Fargo, ND 58103, 701-566-7226). All are welcome to come to socialize with other alumni and families! We encourage a free will offering. IMPORTANT: Minors (under 21) are allowed in the Taproom only until 9:00 p.m. and must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
REGISTRATION FOR 2026
See the button below for our Registration link. If you aren't yet part of our Facebook group, you can request to join the "NDSU Gold Star Alumni Band" group, where we also share information regarding Homecoming.
For any alumni who are NOT receiving e-mails from the NDSU Alumni Foundation, please go to the Foundation's information update page to ensure they have your correct e-mail, as we will not be doing any physical mailings moving forward.
https://ndsufoundation.com/alumni/update-your-information
Save the date for Homecoming and get yourself registered to be a part of our first FBS season!
Meet the Honored Alumni and Alumni Director!
Erin and Andy Schaaf - Honored Alumni
Hello Gold Star Alumni Band!
Erin and I (Andy) are thrilled to be your honored alums for this year. First let it be known that I am here only by association, so it’s more like honored alum plus one. Erin (BS Mus Ed ’08) came to NDSU from Casselton, ND, to study music education and saxophone where she played in every possible group, sang in the women’s choir and even dabbled one semester in percussion ensemble.
Her NDSU highlights included, numerous band tours, playing at competitions and conferences with the saxophone quartet, and leading the Gold Star Marching Band for 2 seasons as Drum Major, including the Bison WIN in the Metrodome in 2007 (breaking the band away game curse).
Graduating with her BS Music Ed, in 2008, she went on to direct middle and high school bands in Sisseton, SD, including a performance in for the then-governor. She then took a position at Discovery Middle School in Fargo. She is currently an Educational Representative for Eckroth Music in Fargo after being an at-home parent for 9 years.
I (Andy Schaaf) (BS Pharm Sci ’10, Pharm D ’12) hail from the sprawling metropolis of Mandan, ND, “Where the West Begins.” I am a failed engineering student from that other school up North on I-29, so I came South to try my hand at pharmacy school. While at NDSU, I played in the jazz ensemble, concert band, and marched one season in the GSMB. I was also introduced to Erin through a mutual friend. She surprisingly agreed to a relationship with a former UND student since her love of the Gold Star Band potentially eclipses that of me some days. We married in 2011 with Erin supporting me while I finished pharmacy school. I graduated in 2012 and went on to manage a Thrifty White Pharmacy in rural MN for 4 years. In 2016, I moved to Cardinal Health where I am now a nuclear pharmacy compliance auditor. I can’t describe it very well, but Erin gives a great elevator speech on the subject. I also thank her profusely for keeping watch of our children when I am traveling for work.
Together, we reside in Moorhead, MN, and have three boys: Parker; Cameron; and Finley. We enjoy playing together with the Lake Agassiz Wind Symphony where they can still torment Dr. Olfert, going to sporting events, cooking and traveling.
Gary Barta - Alumni Director
Gary, a native of Forest River, North Dakota, graduated from Midway High School, Inkster, ND, in 1970. He is a 1974 graduate of NDSU, with a Music Education degree. While at NDSU, he was a member of the Gold Star Marching Band and Concert Band; his primary instrument is trumpet.
After college, Gary worked as a music teacher at Verona, ND and Lisbon, ND and was the director of "Sound Celebration," a community choir in Lisbon.
He is also an avid piano player and a recipient of National Piano Teachers Guild’s "Bach Award." Gary has four sons and one grandson.
He resides near Pelican Rapids, MN, with his wife, Diana Aanerud Barta, who is from Elbow Lake, MN. Thank you to Gary, for volunteering to lead our alumni band for Homecoming 2026!
